Jays Ko Royals In 9th

October 13, 1985|By Mike Kiley, Chicago Tribune.

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays played it differently in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Saturday night, the starting pitchers attended to business, and the game was more like a chess match than the first three checkered offensive duels.

The Royals` Charlie Leibrandt and the Jays` Dave Stieb allowed a hit apiece through five innings. Leibrandt had the left hook and Stieb the right jab in an even fight that didn`t draw blood until the Royals scored in the sixth.

Toronto rallied in the ninth to kayo Leibrandt and take a three games to one lead in the series by winning 3-1.

Leibrandt had allowed four hits until the ninth. He walked leadoff hitter Damaso Garcia, then Lloyd Moseby slugged a double to the wall in right field. It tied the game 1-1 and brought Dan Quisenberry in from the Royals` bullpen. Quisenberry gave up a single to George Bell and a two-run double to Al Oliver.

George Brett was a factor for the Royals, although he didn`t go 4-for-4 with two homers as he did in Friday night`s 6-5 victory.

In the sixth, Toronto manager Bobby Cox ordered Brett walked intentionally for the second time, a very unusual move that loaded the bases with none out. Stieb opened the inning by walking Lonnie Smith, then gave up a single to Willie Wilson that pushed Smith to third. Cox talked with Stieb before Brett was bypassed. Brett`s used to it, haveing been walked

intentionally 31 times this season.

Stieb got two strikes on Hal McRae, but ended up walking him to force in a run. Still, Stieb held Kansas City in check. Pat Sheridan popped out in the infield, and Frank White grounded into a double play.

Stieb didn`t last the seventh and again walks were his undoing. He passed Buddy Biancalana and Smith, and Tom Henke relieved. He retired Wilson.

Stieb permitted two hits in 6 2/3 innings but walked seven, including the two intentional passes.

Leibrandt also was touched for a double with two out in the eighth by pinch-hitter Cecil Fielder. Tony Fernandez grounded out to end the inning.

Fielder`s double was a carbon copy of the Blue Jays` second hit, Garcia`s grounder down the left-field line to the corner for two bases in the sixth. Garcia was quickly erased in a double play. Moseby lined out to Biancalana at shortstop, and he found Garcia too far from second to rush back.

Jesse Barfield, who also had a double, beat out an infield single with two out in the seventh. Biancalana took too much time on it and then threw poorly. Leibrandt knew Barfield was going to steal and threw to first, catching him on the move. A throw to second nailed Barfield.

Nobody has had a tougher series than the umpires. Vic Voltaggio made both clubs mad Friday with caught-stealing calls at second.

Saturday, he was thrust into the midst of controversy again when he said Stieb didn`t get his foot on first ahead of Willie Wilson`s. Wilson became the first Royal to get a hit with two out in the third. It didn`t matter since Brett was retired, but Cox showed his increasing lack of patience with Voltaggio.

TV replays appeared to show Stieb`s foot was there ahead of Wilson`s. First baseman Willie Upshaw flipped the throw to Stieb.

When the pair teamed up again to get an out to finish the fourth, Stieb reacted afterward by spiking the ball. The home plate umpire, Ted Hendry, stopped Stieb on his way to the dugout and spoke with him about this ill-advised slap in the face at Voltaggio.

Leibrandt was lucky to be left-handed when Ernie Whitt smacked a lightning-quick grounder at his glove with Jays prepared to score at second and third with two out. A right-hander may not have had sharp enough reactions to catch it.

There had been none out when a double from Barfield sent Cliff Johnson to third. Someone faster would have had a shot to score on the hit down the line to left field.

Leibrandt got two fly outs by Willie Upshaw and Garth Iorg short enough to the outfield that Jimy Williams, the third-base coach, had to hold the runners.

Stieb`s first intentional walk to Brett came in the first inning once the count reached 3-1.